I HAVE BEEN AROUND COUNTRY MUSIC SINCE I WAS BORN. MY FATHER WAS TILLMAN FRANKS, WHO MANAGED MANY BIG STARS INCLUDING JOHNNY HORTON AND DAVID HOUSTON. JOHNNY AND DAVID BOTH WERE BIG INFLUENCES IN MY LIFE. EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD WHEN JOHNNY DIED, I HAVE ALWAYS FELT CLOSE TO HIM. HIS MUSIC WAS CLASSIC AND HAS TRULY STOOD THE TEST OF TIME. I STARTED PLAYING THE GUITAR AND SINGING SERIOUSLY AROUND 20. I REGRET I DIDN’T START EARLIER. SOMETIMES I THINK DADDY WAS SCARED FOR ME TO GET INTO THE BUSINESS. HE HAD MANY TRYING TIMES AND IT WASN’T ALWAYS EASY (ESPECIALLY WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER) KEEPING BREAD ON THE TABLE. WHEN I WAS AROUND 17 I BEGAN TO PLAY A LOT OF HANK JR. AND WAYLON. THEIR MUSIC TO ME REALLY SOUNDED FRESH AND WAS A LOT OF FUN TO PLAY. I THINK THIS CAUSED ME TO GET MORE SERIOUS ABOUT PLAYING AND SINGING. I HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR A LONG TIME BUT HAVE NEVER GIVEN 100%. I DON’T THINK I EVER BELIEVED IN MYSELF ENOUGH TO TRY TO MAKE IT IN THE BUSINESS. IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THOUGH, I FEEL MY MUSIC HAS IMPROVED AND HAS BECOME MORE ORIGINAL. I TRY TO SING FROM THE HEART AND BELIEVE IN WHAT I’M SINGING AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE CROWD. I LIKE TO HAVE FUN ON THE STAGE. AFTER ALL, PLAYING MUSIC SHOULD BE FUN, NOT WORK. WHEN I’M NOT PLAYING MUSIC, I HAVE A FULL TIME DAY JOB THAT PAYS THE BILLS. WHEN I’M NOT WORKING OR PLAYING MUSIC, I LOVE TO SPEND TIME OUTDOORS: FISHING, HUNTING, GOLF, ANYTHING OUTSIDE. EVERYTHING CHANGES, INCLUDING COUNTRY MUSIC, BUT NOT ALL CHANGES ARE GOOD. THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR A 3 CHORD COUNTRY SONG SUNG FROM THE HEART. ASK WILLIE NELSON. I THINK HE’LL AGREE. I THINK GEORGE WILL AGREE TOO. (BOTH GEORGES)